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Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2)

Class 8 · Foundation (Classes 6–9)

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Ch 2 · India's Long Road to Independence

Prelims 2016 · Q49

The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the

(a)agitation against the Partition of Bengal
(b)Home Rule Movement
(c)Non-Cooperation Movement
(d)visit of the Simon Commission to India

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UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence); old Class 8 Our Pasts – III, Ch 8 (The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947).

Exploring Society, Class 8 Part 2 (ch 2) ties the Swadeshi and boycott movements to the Partition of Bengal in 1905. The old Class 8 book says the mass protest methods of that struggle came to be called the Swadeshi movement. So (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 49 ↗

Prelims 2016 · Q92

What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

(a)Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
(b)Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
(c)Foundation of Muslim League
(d)Aurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress

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UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 8 Exploring Society (Part 2), ch 2: at Surat the Moderates tried to step back from the Calcutta resolutions (Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott) and return to asking for minor concessions. That is why the Nationalists lost faith in them. NCERT's account gives no role to Lord Minto, the Muslim League or Aurobindo's election. Answer (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 92 ↗

Prelims 2016 · Q93

The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War

(a)India should be granted complete independence
(b)India should be partitioned into two before granting independence
(c)India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth
(d)India should be given Dominion status

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UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence).

Exploring Society, Class 8 Part 2 (ch 2): the Cripps Mission of 1942 promised India dominion status once the war was over. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 93 ↗

Prelims 2019 · Q5

With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:

1.It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.
2.The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence); Class 10 India and the Contemporary World – II, Ch 4 (The Age of Industrialisation).

Exploring Society, Class 8 Part 2 (ch 2): leading citizens set up a National Council of Education during the Swadeshi movement. India and the Contemporary World – II (ch 4): as Swadeshi gathered momentum, Indian industrial groups organised themselves. Both statements are correct. So (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 5 ↗

Prelims 2022 · Q53

Consider the following freedom fighters:

1.Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2.Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3.Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only

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UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence).

The one fact NCERT doesn't give: Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee were Bengal revolutionaries of the Anushilan–Jugantar groups (Jogesh later co-founded the HRA), not Ghadar members.

Class 8 Exploring Society (Part 2), ch 2, names Rash Behari Bose among those in India who worked with the Ghadar plan to win over the army. Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2022), question 53 ↗

Prelims 2025 · Q11

Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:

I.He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II.He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only
(b)II only
(c)Both I and II
(d)Neither I nor II

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UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: old Class 8 Our Pasts – III, Ch 7 (Women, Caste and Reform); Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence).

The one fact NCERT doesn't give: Rammohun Roy deeply respected India's ancient philosophy: he translated the Upanishads and based the Brahmo Samaj on the Vedanta.

Class 8 Our Pasts III, ch 7, and Class 8 Exploring Society (Part 2), ch 2, give statement II (Western education, reason, and equality for women). Answer (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2025), question 11 ↗

Prelims 2025 · Q74

Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?

(a)The Poona Pact
(b)The Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact)
(c)Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
(d)Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935

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UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 2 (India's Long Road to Independence).

The one fact NCERT doesn't give: Right after the Poona Pact (1932), Gandhi launched his nationwide campaign against untouchability and founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh.

Class 8 Exploring Society (Part 2), ch 2, describes his untouchability campaign and the Poona Pact together. Careful: in NCERT the campaign is mentioned right after the passage on the 1935 grant of provincial autonomy, which can pull you towards (d). Answer (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2025), question 74 ↗

Ch 4 · The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society

Prelims 2018 · Q4

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

1.The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
2.The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Indian Economic Development, Ch 7 (Environment and Sustainable Development); Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society).

The one fact NCERT doesn't give: The CPCB was set up in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 — a law, not an executive order.

Class 11 Indian Economic Development, ch 7: pollution control boards promote cleanliness of streams and wells and improve air quality. Class 8 Exploring Society (Part 2), ch 4 names the NGT a specialised tribunal. That is statement 2. With the fact, 1 is false. Answer (b).

Beyond NCERT: the NGT was set up in October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, to decide environmental cases quickly. So the first half of statement 1 is right; only the CPCB half is wrong. Source: National Green Tribunal, About Us, greentribunal.gov.in

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2018), question 4 ↗

Prelims 2019 · Q52

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?

(a)The decisions taken by the Election Commission of India while discharging its duties cannot be challenged in any court of law.
(b)The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by laws made by the Parliament.
(c)In the event of grave financial crisis in the country, the President of India can declare Financial Emergency without the counsel from the Cabinet.
(d)State Legislatures cannot make laws on certain matters without the concurrence of Union Legislature.

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UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society).

Exploring Society, Class 8 Part 2 (ch 4): under Article 142 the Supreme Court can pass any order necessary for doing complete justice. Only option (b) is about the Supreme Court. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 52 ↗

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